Counter intelligence: Nicollet Avenue lands another eatery

Diners are going to have another reason to head to Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis, which is quickly becoming restaurant row.

Butter Bakery Cafe (3544 Grand Av. S., Mpls., www.butterbakerycafe.com) is relocating from its longtime home to the ground floor of Nicollet Square (3710 Nicollet Av. S.), a residence for at-risk youths.

Owner Daniel Swenson-Klatt said he hopes the move will take place the first week of October.

"It's going to be the same old Butter," he said. "We're going to try and bring everything over there that we have here, including that wonderful, lovely Butter feel that we have."

That, and all the signature baked goods -- including what are surely some of the Twin Cities' most remarkable eclairs and biscuits -- that make the cozy setup such a destination.

The new space means slightly more seating and a more efficient kitchen -- plus the possibility of adding dinner service -- and Swenson-Klatt is tapping some of the building's residents to serve as kitchen apprentices.

One minor but exciting addition: house-made ice cream and sorbet.

"We'll do maybe three or four at a time," said Swenson-Klatt. "There will always be some version of coffee, and always something to go along with a little pie or cake."

More breads and sweets Uptown carb lovers, listen up: Your neighborhood is about to get a bakery. Veronica Anczarski is opening a branch of her popular Solomon's Bakery (2401 Central Av. NE., Mpls., 952-261-3534) at 2827 Hennepin Av. S., hopefully by the first week of October.

Mill City Farmers Market shoppers will recognize Anczarski's work; she operates a popular stand at the Saturday morning riverfront market. The Uptown retail storefront will feature Anczarski's well prepared breads (seven-grain, sunflower wheat, rosemary-potato, to name a few), rolls, gigantic cookies and more.

"We'll make everything in our Central Avenue location and deliver them fresh every morning," Anczarski said.

Another familiar Mill City Farmers Market vendor -- famous for sourdough breads, among other items -- has some big news.

Nearly 18 months after baker/owner Robert Dubuc lost his original location to, yes, a boulder -- it rolled off a Mississippi River bluff and came to rest in the rear of the bakery's home on St. Paul's West Side -- his BC2 Bakery (Bread Coffee & Cake) is scheduled to open soon at 760 Hwy. 110 in Mendota Heights, next to Teresa's Mexican Restaurant in the Mendota Plaza shopping center.

New to the scene Two openings of note: The Kenwood (2115 W. 21st St., Mpls., www.thekenwoodrestaurant.com), the work of In Season (5416 Penn Av. S., Mpls., www.inseasonrestaurant. com) chef/owner Don Saunders, is now serving morning coffee and pastries and late-morning to mid-afternoon brunch daily, and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Downtown Minneapolis has a new Indian restaurant: Copper Pot Indian Grill (10 S. 5th St., www.copperpotus.com). The attractive and intimate operation, located on the first floor of the historic Lumber Exchange Building, features extensive lunch and dinner menus, a full bar and a $9.99 buffet lunch, notable for its value, variety and quality.